Support of Israel costs Canada seat on UN Security Council

Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon lost the UN seat due to Islamic opposition.

Canada’s increasing ties with Israel and its defense of Jerusalem have cost it a seat on the UN Security Council, diplomats said.

Only a few years ago, the American ambassador would have made a public issue in defense of Canada, but in the maneuvering leading to the vote, American diplomats were all but absent.

Members of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Conference were united in voting for Portugal over Canada, mostly because of Prime Minister Harper’s record of supporting Israel.

Canada, a founding UN member, paid the price for its principled foreign policy stance, especially for its support of Israel, when it lost its bid Tuesday for a seat on the UN Security Council.

“The principles that underlie the policy of foreign affairs – freedom, democracy, human rights and common law – are the foundation of each of these decisions. Some would say that because of our attachment to these values, we lost the seat. If that is the case, so be it,” said Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon.

Source: Benny Avni, New York Sun.